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3 Sheets-Sheet l ug. 9, 1932. .,J. A. v. TURCK CALCULATING MACHINE Filed April 3o, 1929 @uw ,5b n l Y m@@@Q MMIWIHHIIHHWIWWWWWIHHWHIHH Aug.. 9, 1932. J. A. v. TURCK CALCULATING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 50, 19,29

, @Om-ww Aug 9, E932. J. A. v. TURCK CALCULATING MACHINE Filed April 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rvuefnlfoz W@ l@ @l @FAQ @ndi @Am Patented ug. 9, 1932 ramas) UNITED STATES ,PATENT oFFicE JOSEPH A. V. TURCK, OF WILMEITE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 FELT TAB/RANT MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS CALCULATING MACHINE Application filed April 30, 1929. Serial No. 359,263.

This invention relates in general to improvements in calculating machines having ordinal columns and transverse banks of keys for manipulation thereof, and more particularly to improvements in calculating machines of the multiple order key-driven type in which calculation is effected merely by depression and release of the individual keys of a plurality of columns and banks thereof that make up the keyboard of the calculating'machine.

Objects of the invention are r to dividethe keyboard of machines of the above noted types that have a large multiple order capacity into a multiplicity of sections foi-adding and accumulating a plurality of separate totals independently of each other on a single calculating machine contemporaneously from distribution sheets of diii'erent kinds; to provide tfor separating certain elected columns of keys from. other columns by individually removable columnar cover plates which cover and prevent depression of .the keys of the columns they are electively positioned over,

but allow the accumulator wheels for the selected orders to act as overflow wheels for the carry over of tens for the orders lower than the` respective selected orders that are covered, whereby the columnar cover plates may be shifted atwill from one to another order independently of the other columnar cover plates and the number of uncoveredcolumns of keys between each two adjacent columnar cover plates may be varied at the election of an operator; to provideV for covering one or a plurality of banks of keys, such as banks of six to nine keys, at the election of an operator and to provide such covering of banks of keys by individually removable bank lcover plates, whereby the number of columns tobe covered by the bank covering plates may be varied at will to correspond with the number of columns set oit between each two adjacent columnar cover plates; to `provide such bank and columnar key covering plates which may be removed and attached tothe keys without requiring depression of the 'keys which would, with some types of calculatingmachines effect a partial keystroke and thereby cause a locking of the entire keyboard; to provide bank and columnar key covering plates capable of the above noted advantages which will not become displaced or jarred ofi' during rapid operation of the uncovered keys; to provide for such bank and columnar key covering with plates that are not unsightly to the eyes, and that furnish complete safetyl to an operator against scraping of theiingers on such plates or sharp edges thereof, and that will'be in true alignment with the keys covered and will be positively held thereon; and the invention has for further objects such other advantages in construction and operation as may be found to obtain in structures and devices hereinafter' described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and showing, i'or purposes of exemplilication, a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrative instance or instances Figure l is a top plan view ot' a calculating 'machine ot the multiple order key-driven type showing thc keyboard thereof and one arrangement of thebank and columnar cover plate, devices thereon;

Fig. Z'is a right hand side elevational view showing the bank and columnar key covering plates in the position they assume when attached to the keys;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing a set of one of the bank covering plates having capacity for four ordinaly columns of keys;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing one of the columnar cover plates in position over one ordinal column of nine keys;

Fig. 5 'is a vertical cross-sectional view taken longitudinally of the orders of, the ma` chine keyboard on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing the position the bank cover plates assume when attached to the keys; Fig. 6 is a bottom'plan view, partly in seetion, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing the attaching position of one of the columnar cover plates with respect to an ordinal c01- umn of keys, the keys between the opposite end keys being omitted for clearness of illustration; v

Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing one of the bank covering plates that has the ordinal capacity for all ordinal columns of the machine and that ,has the capacity for four banks lof keys across the entire keyboard, and showing a plurality of some of the other columnar cover plates employed, for instance, with the bank covering plates shown in this ligure of the drawings, each of said columnar cover plates extending over only the keys of their respective elected ordinal columns that are not covered by said bank covering plates.

In its present embodiment,l the invention is'incorporated in a calculating machineof the multiple order key-driven type, such as exemplilied inthe United States Letters Patent N o. 1,07 2,933 to Dorr, Felt, and others to said Dorr E. Felt, and also in United States Letters Patents 1,357,747, 1,357,748, 1,367,468 and others to the present inventor Joseph A. V. Turck. For convenience the ensuing description will be directed to this use o the invention. The novel features of the present invention are, however, readily susceptibleofl other valuable application, for example, with other types of adding or calculatm machines, hence the invention is not con ed to the specitic use and specilic embodiment herein described as an illustrative example.

Referring to the drawinvs, there are shown views of a. key-driven ca culating machine 10. The calculating machine comprises in its construction a'lowercasing 11 in which the actuating mechanism, accumulator mechanism, and zeroizing mechanism are contained, and a top casing plate 12 havin a row `of sight apertures 13 for ,reading t e register numeral wheels lll. Apmultiplicity of ordinal columns 15 of nine keys 16 are provided, each ordinal column being companion to one vof the numeral wheels 14. Each key 16 is provided with a stem 17 that extends through the top casing plate 12'and is adapted to actuate actuating mechanism beneath said late upon each depression undV release of its he machine shown on the drawungs is provided with a zeroizing manipulative device 18, a keyboard lock release key 19 and a keyboard and zeroizing lever lock 20. i y For distribution and other statistical work, the keyboard is divided into separate keyboards by means of removahle longitudinal division pieces orv columnar key cover plates 21. Each such piece 21 is arranged to longitudinally cover a row or ordinal column of nine keys to set od one or more ordinal columns of keys between it and another such division piece mounted over another row of keys, and to prevent manipulation oft the keys that they respectively cover, while allowing the accumulatore and numeral wheels of their chine, by removal of the longitudinal co-flumnar pieces 21 from the keyboard, when desired. The longitudinal columnar division pieces providedby the present invention are long cupped plates 21, each so constructed in size and length'as to set down over any column of keys and cover the key,` buttons and their numbers from view. Certain of the longitudinal pieces 21 are madeof su'icient length to cover an entire ordinal column Vof keys and others 22 are made indifferent lengths respectively ofsuch length as to cover a plurality of keys in any one ordinal column but less than the entire column. F or in stance, some are adapted for covering two keys, others three keys, etc., in any one ordinal column. Each of the longitudinal'columnar division pieces comprises a longitudinally extendingt'op member 24 disposed in a single plane and having two oppositely disposeddepending side flanges 25 extending continuously from one end 26 to the other 27 thereof. The side flanges 25 are rounded at 28 to provide a smooth surface that vwill not injure the in ers of an operator during movement of the ngers alongside or in contact with said pieces during manipulation of' the uncovered keys between each two of said pieces. The side flanges 25 are spaced from each other a distance just suflicient 'to clear the sides 30 of the keys so as to prevent hinding thereon-and yet be sufficiently close to the sides 3 0 of said keys to maintain the pieces 21, 22 in alignment with the columns of keys when mounted thereon. In order that these longitudinat columnar division pieces 21, 22, may be held securely, but removabl in place, each end-is provided with a. roun ed end 31 terminating in a turned-in ledge 32'spaced just sulicient distance from the top surface 24 so that one of the ledges 32 may project under the front edge of a lower numeral key button, 'for instance, the l key, and the other of the ledges 32 may `project under the rear edge of'ai higher numeral key button, for instance, the 9 key, in one and the same ordinal column of keys. With this arrangement and construction, the longitudinal columnar division'pieces 21, 22 may be and are assembled over anordinal column of keys by hooking one of the ,ledges 32 over the front edge of one key and by hooking` the other of the ledges 32 under the rear edge of another higher numeral key by springing the higher numeral forward just a slight amount which is enough to allow the ledge 32 at the rear of the particular piece disposed depending front and bac 21, 22, to drop over and under the higher numeral key so that when pressure is released on said key it will spring back to the position shown in Figs. ,1 and 4 with the lower edge of the key buttonpver the led e 32.

As the type of Work usually per ormed on the keyboards so apportioned 0H on a single keyboard by the lqngitudinal columnar division pieces 21, 22, is of addition of the kind which permits of the employment of the system generally known as the double touch system .which requires only the use of keys from 1 to 5, it is an advantage to also have the higher numeral ,keys of the keyboardl blocked 0E in banks. Thus plates' 33 similar in construction to the` plates 21, 22, are provided to cover banks of keys, in addition to the covering of elected columns of k'eys. As shown, the plates 33" are ada ted to cover banks of all keys above the 5 numeral keys. As plates 33 of various columnar capacity and of various bank capacity are required in view of the varying requirementsI incidental to the types of distribution and statistical Work that the machine is to be used for, a plurality of Vplates 33, respectively of different columnar and bank capacities are provided, some like 34 adapted to cover all of the keys above thev 5 keys of all orders of the machine, and `others like 35 of different Widths, respectively of such width as to cover banks of keys in a plurality of orders but less than the entire ordinal capacity of the4 machine. The number of columns covered by the plates 35 is, however, nota specific feature of the invention, since a set of --said plates but of different columnar and bank capacities is provided. As each of th'eplates- 33|of the 'set are substantially alike in coni struction and differ from each other only -in ordinal capacity and in bank capacity, ashowing of the plates of four ordinal capacity and four ,banks capacity, and a showing of Ithe plates of four banks capacity and of ordinal capacity to cover all orders of the 'machine will be suicient for an understanding of the present invention, and of the other plates 35 of the set which are of ordinal capacity of two, three, five,- six, etc., ordinal columns, and which have a bank capacity of two, three, five, six, etc., banks of keys. The bank covering plates 33, like the longitudinal division pieces, 21, 22, are constructed so as to be readily removable from the ke s'to permit of great flexibility in shifting t em with respect tothe various banks of keys and orders of the keyboard. The bank covering plates 34 and 35 are each-constructed, to set down over and cover and be removably attached tothe keys in the same manner as are the` longitudinal columnar division pieces 2l. f Each of the bank covering' plates 34 and 35 comprises a top member 36 disposed in a single plane and having two o positely flanges and yet be sufhciently close to the front 'and rear sides'of the keys of the "fore- :most and rearmost ybanks of keys when positioned thereon in order to maintain the pieces 34 and 35 in alignment with the banks of keys. lIn order that these pieces 34 and 35 may be held securely, but removably, in place, each flange 37 terminates in a turnedin lip 39 spaced just a sufficient distance from the top surface 36 so as to engage under the key buttons of the keys and an end ledge 32 under a key coveredby'a longitudinal columnar division piece. These plates 34, 35 are therefore 'attachable' andremovable in the same manner above set forth in the description of the longitudinal columnar division pieces 21. p v

The bank covering plates 35 that are intended for covering either the lowest or highest ordinal vcolumn of the machine are provided with a side fiange 41 `for enclosing the outermost sides of the keys in said'orders and on the side opposite the flange 4l are cut away at 42 to lit around the sides of the longitudinal columnar pieces 21 and terminate in a free edge 43 adapted to overlap the top of an adjacent columnar division piece 21, as shown in Fig. 1. The plates 35 that are intended kto ibe used between other plates' 35 yfor covering banks of keysl between the other plates 35 are cut away on their o posite sides at 44 to accommodate similar -ongitudinal pieces 21, and terminate in free edges 45 adapted to overlap longitudinal columnar division pieces 21 at opposite sides of the respective plates, as shown in Fig. 1.

One manner of employment of the bank, covering plates 35 is shown in Fig. 1, and another manner of employment of the bank covering plates is shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to use only that portion of the keyboard which includes the 1 to 5 keys inclusive, a longitudinal columnar division piece 21 is placed over-each of the 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th orders of the machine and a bank covering plate 35 having' capacity. for vfour ordinal columns of ke s and for four banks of keys is placed over t e 6 to 9 keys inclusive of the first'to fourth orders, another is placed over thef to 9 keys inclusive of the-sixth to ninth orders, and similarly another over the eleventh to fourteenth and sixteenth to nineteenth orders respectively.

From the foregoing it will be apparent ICS ed a keyboard havingonly five numeral keys in each order, and by employing the longitudinal division pieces 22, such keyboard of only five numeral keys may be readily con'- verted into a two column keyboard by placing one of the division pieces 22 on the tenth ordinal column; three keyboards, by placing division pieces 22 on the seventh and fourteenth columns; four keyboards by plaing division pieces 22 on the fifth, tenth and ifteenth columns; and inlike manner, other keyboards up to two column capacity can be readily arranged. Byemploylng the bank covering plates 35 and the longitudinal division pieces 21,v or22, a like subdivision -may be made, and the number of banks of keys covered in one keyboard may be greater or less than those in 'an adjaceut.or remote keyboard on the main keyboard, i., e., viewing F ig. l, the first keyboard may have the 6 to 9 keys covered, the second keyboard may have the 5 to 9 keys covered, and the third keyboard may have the 4 to 9 keys covered, and the fourth keyboard may have the 3 to 9 keys covered. As shown, the bank covering plate 34 has its two oppoc sitely disposed sides terminating in depending flanges 48 to enclose the sides of the outermost columns of the machine, but of course, if desired, such langesmay be omitted without detracting from the inherent advantages of such plates.

' As an advantage to an operator in taking distribution items from distribution sheets in bookkeeping and other types of olice Work, when records are to be compiled and added, provision has been, made for inse'rtmg and holding legends of diderent t pes of distribution that the keyboard is su divided for. As shown in Fig. l, each of the plates 33, 35, are provided with card retainers 46 having lips 47 for removably holding a legend-bearing card in position over each of the columns of keys set ofia by the columnar division pieces.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in a particular form of constructionbut may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

l claim:

1. Incombination with a calculating machine having a keyboard comprising parallel rows of finger keys with buttons thereon, a columnar covering plate mounted over and obseuring the buttons of a plurality of -keys in one of the rows thereof and visually nomme and physically setting oli. the keyboard into separate simultaneous keyboards, and means for removably clipping said plate to the underside of the buttonsA of the keys, whereby said plates may be shifted from row to row atvwill vto vary order and numbers of rows4 of keys that may be selected for setting ofi' as separate keyboards by said plate.

2. In combination with'va'calculating machine having a keyboard comprising parallel rows of finger keys with buttons thereon, a columnar covering plate mounted over and obscuring the buttons of a plurality of keys in one of the rowsthereof and visually and physically setting off the keyboard into separate simultaneously accessible keyboards, a separate bank covering plate mounted over 'the butto-ns of banks of the 'keys in the sepkeyboards by said plates.

3. A covering plate for obscuring the buttons of a row of linger keys on the keyboard of a calculating machine comprising a top member for covering and obscuring the tops of the buttons of a row of keys; depending side flanges integral with said top for enclosing the sides of the buttons that are on opposite sides of the row of keys covered by said top, said side flanges terminating outside the bottoms of said buttons; and flanges integral with and depending from said top for enclosing the outer portions of the buttons of the two keys at the end of the row of keys, said end flanges having inwardly bent holding lips for engagement with the bottoms of the buttons of the two keys at the opposite end of the row thereof.

4. A covering plate for obscuring the buttons of a row of finger keys on the keyboard of a calculating machine comprising a top member for covering and obscuring the tops of the buttons of a row of keys; end anges integral with and depending from said top for enclosing the outer portions of the butftons of the two keys at the end of the row of keys, said end flanges having inwardly bent holding lips for engagement with the bottoms of the buttons of the two keys at the opposite end of the row thereof.

In testimony whereof ll havehereuy'nto set JOSEPH A. V. TURCK my Hand. 

